Benzylated lignocellulosic substance and a producing method thereof

Abstract

A benzylated lignocellulosic substance obtained through benzylation, wherein 46 to less than 97% of lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC) contained in a wood raw material from which the substance is formed remains.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of producing a benzylated lignocellulosic substance containing 46 to less than 97% of a lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC) originally contained in a wood raw material, comprising the steps of: (a) mercerizing the wood raw material; and   (b) benzylating the wood raw material which has undergone the mercerizing step, said mercerizing and benzylating being conducted under conditions sufficient to provide a benzylated substance containing 46 to less than 97% of the lignin carbohydrate complex (LCC) originally contained in the wood.   
     
     
       2. The method of producing a benzylated lignocellulosic substance as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC) in the benzylated substance is at least 1.5 wt %. 
     
     
       3. The method of producing a benzylated lignocellulosic substance as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC) in the benzylated substance is within the range from 73 to 96%. 
     
     
       4. The method of producing a benyzlated lignocellulosic substance as set forth in claim 3, wherein the lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC) in the benzylated substance is at least 2.83 wt %. 
     
     
       5. The method of producing a benzylated lignocellulosic substance as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wood raw material is composed of one kind or a plurality of kinds of hardwoods or one kind or a plurality of kinds of softwoods or a mixture of hardwoods and softwoods. 
     
     
       6. The method of producing a benzylated lignocellulosic substance as set forth in claim 5, wherein the wood raw material is wood flour or pulp containing lignin or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
       7. Method of producing a benzylated lignocellulosic substance as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wood raw material is hard wood, and the benzylation is conducted under conditions sufficient to achieve a degree of substitution of the OH groups substituted by benzyl groups per glucose residue of about 1.3 to 1.5. 
     
     
       8. Method of producing a benzylated lignocellulosic substance as set forth in claim 1, wherein the degree of substitution is about 1.4 to 1.5. 
     
     
       9. Method of producing a benzylated lignocellulosic substance as set forth in claim 2, wherein the wood raw material is soft wood, and the benzylation is conducted under such conditions that the number of OH groups substituted by benzyl groups per glucose unit is about 1.6 to 1.8.